Job Opportunity

POSITION SUMMARY

This position supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit, charitable organization committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Program Executive Director of Early Childhood Programs works with teachers and supervisors to maintain a supportive, positive atmosphere that welcomes and respects all individuals, promotes the potential of all youth, and provides a quality experience to both youth and their families.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate staff.
2. Establish and ensure quality programs, guided by Association wide standards.
3. Work with the VP of Youth Development & VP of Finance in establishing annual budgets.
4. Meet or exceed budgeted levels of income and control expenses.
5. Schedule and run staff meetings and other staff events.
6. Participate and attend staff training; serve on Subject Matter Teams, task forces and committees.
7. Develop programs and staffing to best meet the needs of our members/participants.
8. Establish relationships within the community to enhance and develop programs as well as identify gaps in programming.
9. Lead purchasing initiatives and manage purchasing for the programs.
10. Collaborate with marketing to establish and approve all marketing initiatives.
11. Works in collaboration with the Development team on applying for and managing grant and contract funding, relevant RFPs, and corresponding reports.
12. Organize and conduct staff training.
13. Directly supervises preschool directors, assistant directors/teachers, and coordinators.
14. Works with directors, assistant directors/teachers, and coordinators to ensure adequate supervision of teachers, assistant teachers, aides, children, classrooms, and all program activities.
15. In centers that are 50 children or less or when centers are running short staffed, may be counted into the teaching staff ratio.
16. Works with supervisors to ensure adequate coverage and required ratios are met when staff take time off or are absent.
17. Works with supervisors to plan and lead age and developmentally appropriate early learning experiences in a classroom setting, ensuring a safe and nurturing environment for children ages infants to under 6 years of age.
18. Follows all procedures and standards as established by the law or the Y; makes ADA accommodations where appropriate; maintains the program site, equipment, and required program records (e.g. properly completed registration and medical forms for participants and attendance records).
19. Ensures supervisors follow and enforce all procedures and standards as established by the law or the Y; makes ADA accommodations where appropriate; maintains the program site, equipment, and required program records (e.g. properly completed registration and medical forms for participants and attendance records).
20. Ensures supervisors are creating environments that nurture children through purposeful programming; creating lesson plans that are intended to achieve program goals and outcomes.
21. Creates a positive rapport and shared interest with staff and youth.
22. Works with supervisors to ensure centers provide opportunities for youth to lead, problem-solve, and make decisions and choices within the program and provides daily opportunities for youth to reflect on and respond to their experiences.
23. Ensures supervisors make ongoing, systematic observations and evaluations of each child.
24. Provides and welcomes ongoing dialogue with parents and caregivers about their child’s needs and progress; conducts parent/caregiver conferences; connects families to the Y.
25. Works with supervising staff in planning and implementing family nights, program activities, staff meetings, and staff training.
26. Works with supervising staff to support and guide staff in keeping their certifications current and up to date.
27. Coaches and corrects supervisors and staff when necessary.
28. Works with supervisors to issue Counseling Discussions and/or Annual Reviews/Coaching when necessary.
29. Fills in/subs when necessary.
30. Monitors centers to ensure snack/meal preparation, handling, and/or distribution follows all relevant guidelines set by DOH, DHS, contractors, and other associated governing bodies.
31. Conducts site visits to ensure clean up and preparation of the classrooms are being completed.
32. Assists supervisors to ensure staff interact with children and provide supervision of children at all times.
33. Works with supervisors to maintain an environment that fosters a sense of team work, trust, and cohesion.
34. Prepares for inspections, site visits, annual renewals, and initial applications of permits, licenses, and accreditations.
35. Adheres to policies, standard operating procedures, and handbooks related to boundaries with youth.
36. Participates and attends all required abuse risk management training.
37. Adheres to standards & procedures related to managing high-risk activities and supervising youth.
38. Reports any suspicious, inappropriate behaviors and policy violations to supervisor immediately and complies with mandated YMCA and State of Hawaii abuse reporting requirements.
39. Reinforces staff and volunteers to adhere to policies and procedures related to abuse risk.
40. Responds seriously and confidentially to reports of suspicious and inappropriate behaviors, and responds quickly to policy and procedure violations using the organization’s progressive disciplinary procedures.
41. Complies with the YMCA and State of Hawaii abuse reporting requirements.
42. Performs other duties as assigned (e.g. clerical admin)

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be qualified and registered through DHS Hawaii Early Childhood Registry according to the state child care licensing rules as Preschool Director AND Teacher:
  • Director:
    • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university preferably in courses with early childhood education, childhood development, or related fields, and two years experience working with children; or
    • Combination of two years of college education or child development associate (CDA) certification and four years experience in work with children; and
    • In either case, at least one year of experience shall be with children of the appropriate age for the child care center being directed.
  • In addition, a teacher shall meet one of the following qualifications:
    • A degree in child development or early childhood education from an accredited college or university, and six months working experience in an early childhood program, or
    • Post-secondary credential in child development associate program or organized two-year (sixty credit) college program and certificate in early childhood education, plus one year supervised teaching experience in an early childhood program, or
    • Baccalaureate (bachelor’s degree) in elementary education from an accredited college or university plus six months working in an early childhood program, plus six credit – semester or equivalent approved child development or early childhood training courses (maybe included as part of bachelors of arts or bachelors of science degree); or
    • Baccalaureate (bachelor’s degree) in any field from an accredited college or university plus six months working in an early childhood program, plus twelve credits –semester or equivalent approved child development or early childhood training courses, (maybe included as part of bachelors of arts or bachelors of science degree).
    • Waivers for teacher or assistant teacher positions may be granted by the department if there are no qualified applicants available for the position, provided : (1) The position vacancy has been advertised in the classified ad section of the largest newspaper in the county; The prospective employee meets the requirement for the next lower position; There is a written plan presented to the department's division administrator on the steps to be taken to bring the employee up to the proper qualifications for the position; and (4) Approval for a waiver has been received prior to the hiring of the non-qualified teacher or assistant teacher
    • Temporary hires shall meet qualifications of positions for which hired
    • Substitutes for teachers and assistant teachers shall be at least eighteen years of age and shall have participated in an orientation program of the facility. The curriculum, lesson plans, and daily activities assigned to the substitute shall be closely supervised by the center's director.

Additional Qualifications

• Minimum of 18 years of age is required.
• Pediatric CPR, First Aid, and AED certifications required.
• Must meet all Hawaii DHS requirements including but not limited to: current TB clearance/assessment, DHS physical, fingerprinting/background check, and employment verification.
• 6+ years full-time experience as a preschool teacher preferred.
• 5+ years staff management responsibility and experience in logistical administration of childhood education programs including meeting activities for teachers, aides and staff preferred.
• Experience in public speaking and public relations preferred.
• Effective command of verbal and written English language to communicate with internally/externally.
• Proficient in using the computer software programs for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, data files, and researching information.
• Child Abuse Prevention training (Praesidium) prior to the start of first shift.
• Ability to plan, organize and implement age-appropriate/developmentally appropriate program activities.
• Previous experience with diverse populations.
• Ability to develop positive, authentic relationships with people from different backgrounds.
• Commitment to inclusion and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• YMCA Multi-Team Leader certification preferred.
• Fulfillment of state-specific hiring standards and completion of YMCA program-specific training.
• Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community.
• Daily access to personal vehicle required.
• Inter-island travel required.